Delayed action attachment for printing press grippers



Feb. 16, 1954 c K V 2,669,180

DELAYED ACTION ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESS GRIPPERS Filed Jan. 30,1950 4 Shee'ts-Sheei: l

IN VEN TUR. C2 HRENCE B. huEvsR A T'TORNE Y6 c. B. KLIEVER 2,669,180

DELAYED ACTION ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESS GRIPPERS .Feb. 16, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1950 m w w R. V E M L. 8 w n 2 15 h a W NM! M A Q W m B F 5 3 3 w 3 fig 1 l a:=$ I .E #5 am- 4 I5 5 5 l W..-. m rI a 1 E; 7 =21 i I u fi I i Wm Q Z E Z w 1 v 52.52: 4 i 2 m C. B.KLIEVER Feb. 16, 1954 DELAYED ACTION ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSGRIPPERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 30, 1950 INVENTOR. CLARENCE 5. K1.IEVER PLATE/V (Lasso PRINTING POSITION 5 m m WW ,C

ATToRNEYs Feb. 16, 1954 v c, KUEVER 2,669,180

DELAYED ACTION ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESS GRIPPERS Filed Jan. 30,1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 DEUVERY Mac.

PNIIEMATIC PLATEN OPEN GRWERS GRIPPERS 2/ Asour TO RELEASE SHEET PM TENOPEN PRINTED SHEET RE- v,LEASED T0 PERM/T WITHDRA WAL FROM I N V EN TOR.CLARENcEB. KL/EVEI? f MWW A ToRNs Y4 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE DELAYED ACTION ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSGRIPPERS This invention relates to new and useful improvements inprinting presses of the bed and platen type equipped with a mechanismfor automatically feeding the blank sheets into printing positionbetween the usual bed and platen of the press in a manner well known inthe art. The platens of many such printing presses are also now equippedwith delayed action grippers arranged to continue to hold each printedsheet in contact with the platen during movement of the platen from itsclosed or printing, to its open position, to enable the usual suctiongrippers of the device for receiving the printed sheets to positivelygrip each sheet and eject it from the press, and whereby the press maybe operated at high speed.

There are however, a great many conventional printing presses in use atthe present time which are not equipped with delayed action grippers,whereby such presses must be operated at a relatively lower speed toallow ample time for delivering each printed sheet in position to beengaged by the usual suction grippers of the press. Because of therelatively lower speed to which these presses must be operated, theresultant capacity of such machines may be considerably lower than thecapacity of machines equipped with delayed action grippers, ashereinbefore referred to, and it is therefore highly desirable thatmeans be provided whereby such lower speed presses may be converted intohigh speed machines, to enable them to compete with modern high speedmachines.

2 One of the important objects of the present invention therefore is toprovide an attachment for delaying the opening or paper releasing actionof the platen grippers of a press whose grippers were not originallydesigned for such delayed action, whereby the usual grippers of thepress are retained in gripping engagement with the printed sheet on theplaten during movement of the platen from printing or closed position,to its open position, thereby to prevent displacement of the printedsheet during such movement, and whereby the speed of such a press mayreadily be increased to the extent that the output of the machine maycompare favorably with the output of modern high speed presses now incommon use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachmentcomprising a plurality of cams and rollers having means for mountingthem on the usual platen operating mechanism of a conventional low speedpress, whereby the usual platen grippers will be given a delayed action,

2 to thereby retain the printed sheet upon the platen as the platenreturns to its normal open position, whereby the suction grippers of thedelivery device for removing the printed sheet from the platen, mayengage the sheet before the grippers release it and thus preventdisplacement of the sheet on the platen from the time it is initiallyplaced thereon to receive an impression until the printed sheet isremoved from the press.

A further object is to provide such an attachment which is extremelysimple and inexpensive in construction, and which is so constructed thatit may readily be attached to a conventional slow speed presssubstantially without requiring any alterations in the press, thereby tocause the usual grippers of such a press to operate with a delayedaction in a manner very similar to that of modern high speed presses.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of the inventionwhich embodies a minimum number of parts, all of which may readily besecured in position on the usual operating arms and linkage of thepress, whereby the usual platen grippers of a press which previouslywere not capable of delayed action, will operate with a delayed action,whereby the speed of such a press may be greatly increased; and in theprovision of such an attachment which comprises a minimum number ofparts so constructed and arranged that the attachment may readily beattached to the press without requiring any major alterations thereto.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional printingpressshowing the invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the platen on a larger scale, with parts ofthe press omitted, and showing the grippers in operative engagement witha printed sheet supported thereon, and the suction grippers of thedelivery device engaged with the sheet;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view substantially on theline 3--3 of Figure 7, show- 3 ing the relative positions of the variouscams and rollers constituting the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the parts in the positionsassumed when a sheet is receiving an impression;

Figure 5 is a similar View showing the position of the parts when theplaten commences its movement toward open position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to: Figure 5' showing the platen furtheradvanced in its movement toward open position;

Figure '7 is a view showing the platen in its open position with thegrippers still engaged with the.

printed sheet supported thereon, andthe suction.

grippers of the delivery means also engaged with the sheet;

Figure 8 is a view showing, the platen. in. wide open position, with theplaten grippers open to permit pneumatic grippers of the delivery meansto remove the printed sheet from the platen to complete the. cycle;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the bracket foradjaustably' securing; oneof: the rollersof the attachment to thesidearm of the press;

Figure 10 is: a detail, sectional view on'theline Iii-I of Figurefi; and

Figure 1-1 is a perspectiveview of the composite cam unit, detached fromthe machine;

In the selected embodiment oi the. invention herein disclosed, there.-iszillustrated in. Figure 1-, a side elevational view of) a conventionalform of printing press with the invention embodied therein; To simplifyexplanation, some of the operating parts of thepressarenot shown.

lhe printing press comprises a main frame I having a bed 2' mounted-forpivotal movement about the usual bed shaft 3:, shown in Figure l. Thepress also includes. the usual platen- 4, shown in full anddotted lines.inrFigure l', a-stock magazine,.generally designated by thenumeral. asheet feeding mechanism indicated by thenumeral 6, and-a; sheetdelivery: mechanism 1.

The.- sheet feeding. mechanism is show-rtcomprising a pivotallymountedsuction-arm. &carry- 1 ing'a. number of suctionfeed-grippers 9,adapted to engage and grasp the foremost sheet in; the magazine: 5 anddeliver. i-t-ontethe: platen 4, when the latter is supported in itsopemposition; as

indicated in dotted lines-inFigurell'. The platen l ismountedfor:rocking movement on trunnions It, by suitable means not deemed.necessary to illustrate in the; drawings, it being understood, however,that the platen operates in. timed: relationto' the swinging; movementof the bedf'ramevices 9. The inking devices are.- arranged to.

travel over the bed plate l'lduring each cycle of operation, thereby toapply the necessary. ink to. the type of the bed plate to make the,desired impression upon thesheetto be printed;

Thereare now a great.many-printingnresses of this general type in dailyuse in which the grippers for supporting the sheet on the platen duringthe printing operation, do not have a delayed action. In other words,when the sheet has been printed and the bed plate I! swings out ofprinting engagement with the platen to permit the latter to be swung toits open osition, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the pivotedgrippersYZli of iiherplaten 4,.shown in Figures'2 and 8, are-usuallyactuated to'rel'easetheprinted sheet before the pneumatic grippers 22 ofthe sheet delivery mechanism 1 move forwardly to engage the sheets Tothus: release the printed sheet before the usual pneumatic grippers ofthe sheet delivery mechanism 1 actually engages the printed sheet, hasbeen found objectionable, in that it limits the speed'cfthe machine witha resultant reduction inzitsv capacity. In other words, when operating aprinting press wherein the platen grippers do not have a delayed action,it is usually necessary to have. an attendant at. the, machine to.=-constantly watch-the'printed sheets as they are-'released from" thedelivery mechanism, because should the pneumatic. grippers not thedelivery mechanism fail to properly engage the printed sheets,- saidsheets may become damaged. to the extent that they may be unfit for:use.

The novelattachment. herem disclosed, when applied to. a. printingpressiof the type-above reierredto, impartsto'its grippers: 21, a:delayed action similar to that new employed in modern high-speedprinting presses, whereby each-printed sheet. is retained in position.on the platen 4 during' the opening; movement of the. platenssothat thepneumatic grippers of the deliverymechanism. may engage each sheetthus.supported, on theplaten, and assure proper withdrawal of the printedsheets from the; press. The delayed action: thus imparted to the platemgrippers 2% makes it possible to increase the speed of the press: tothat of modern high speed presses, whereby its capacityis similarlyincreased;

The novel: attachment herein disclosed. is. clearly illustrated: in theapplication drawings. and comprises: a composite cam: unit, generallydesignated by the: numeralkz-a; shown mounted on a: pivot bolt 24,securedv in a bracket 25; which in turn is secured to oneof thesideframe members 2ft of. the machine frame. l, as: best shown: in;

press. The. crank disk 33J-is mountedupon and secured to axmain' shaftjoumal led inisuitable The bearings providedin the machineframe l5.opposite end of the side. arm 31* is' pivotally con.-

nected to; the" usual roller frame-member 3-5;.one;

end of; which may be connected: to. the; main frame of the machine by aside'l'inke 36; shown in Figure I. The-sidearm 1-H, as'a result: ofitsconnection withthe crank wheeler disk 313mm parts: pivotal movement tothe bed 2 when. the

machine in' operation As a: result of such oscillation or pivotalmovement of the beetl and because of the roller firame member beingpivoted thereto, the roller frame member-'35 is actuatedto cause thedevices letotravel:

downwardly over the-face of the bed plate- H to ink the. type secured.thereto duri-ngeach cycle oi, eperation, as is wellkncwn in the-art.

A' link, generally designated by the numeral 31, is shown having itsupper end pivoted to 9. lug 38 on the platen t, whereby longitudinalmovement is imparted to the link 31 when the platen moves from open toclosed position, and back, as will be understood by reference to Figures4 and 7. The lower end of the link 31 has an elongated slot 39 therein,which receives a pin 4| secured in the machine frame, whereby the lowerend of the link 31 is guided in its longitudinal movements, as theplaten swings from open to closed position, or vice versa. 7

The link 31 constitutes a part of the printing press, and serves toswing the platen grippers 2| into gripping engagement with the sheet tobe printed, when the platen assumes its closed position, as shown inFigures 1 and 4. A suitable spring 2-3, indicated in Figure 3,constantly urges the grippers 2| into paper gripping relation with theplaten 4, as will subsequently be described.

The grippers 2! of the platen are shown secured to a gripper supportingbar 42 having opposed terminals d3 rotatably mounted in suitablebearings 44 secured to the ends of the platen, as clearly illustrated inFigures 2, 3 and 8. The platen supporting bar 42 has an arm 45 dependingtherefrom, on the lower end of which an antifriction roller 55 ismounted. The roller 48 is arranged to engage the cam face 47 of the link31. The cam face M is shown having a recess 48 therein adapted toreceive the anti-friction roller 46 of the arm 33, when the parts arepositioned, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, or in other words, when thelaten is in its closed, or in printing position relative to the bedplate H, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. The above describedstructure is well known.

To delay the opening action of the platen grippers 2|, means is providedfor preventing pivotal movement of the grippers relative to the platen4, when the platen moves from its closed printing position, shown inFigure 4, toits open position shown in Figures 7 and 8. Such means isshown comprising an arm 43 which is fixed to the depending arm to of thegripper supporting bar 42 of the platen. Arm t9 carries at its outer enda small anti-friction roller 5|, positioned to engage the cam face 2? ofthe multiple cam unit 23, when the platen moves from closed to openposition, whereby the platen grippers 25 are retained in paper grippingposition, as may be best understood by reference to Figures 6 and '7.This results because during such movement of the platen from closed toopen position, cam face 21 engages roller 55 and thus prevents gripperroller at from entering recess is in cam bar 3?, as best shown in Figure'7.

When installing the attachment on a press, the cam unit 23 is laterallyoffset from the plane of the link 3'5, as shown in Figure 3. This makesit necessary to outwardly space the roller M from the arm 45, as shownin Figure 3. The arm 43 is therefore shown secured to one end of a smallshaft or rod 32 having its opposite end fixed in a bracket 53, shownsecured to the arm 45 by a suitable clamping plate '54 and screws 55.The cam unit 23 has one end of a suitable spring 5!) connected thereto,the opposite end of which is attached to a fixed element on the machineframe, as indicated in the drawings, whereby the spring constantly urgesthe cam unit in a direction to wards the crank disk 33.

To retain the platen grippers 2| in their closed positions, as indicatedin Figures 5 and6, means is provided for retaining the cam unit 23 inthe position shown in Figures 5 and 6, wherein it will be noted theterminal 69 of the cam unit is spaced from the periphery of the crankdisk 33. When the platen is in its closed or printing position, shown inFigures 1 and 4, the terminal 89 of the cam unit 23 is engaged with theperiphery of the crank disk 33, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The means provided for swinging the cam 23 in a direction away from thecrank disk 33 to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, is showncomprising an anti-friction roller 58 rotatably supported in a bracket,generally designated by the numeral 51. The bracket 51 is adjustablysecured to the side arm 3|, whereby the position of the roller 56 mayreadily be varied relative to the arm 3| thereby to time the pivotalmovement of the cam unit 23 to the operation of the side arm 3|, andother associated parts of the mechansm.

The mounting bracket 57 of the roller 56 is preferably constructed asshown in Figures 1, 3 and 9, and comprises a body '53 having offsetspaced parallel flanges 5S and 5| which embrace the side arm 3|. Setscrews 62 are mounted in the flanges '59 and El adapted to engage theopposed edges of the arm 3|, and whereby the position of the roller 56relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm 3| may be varied, if deemednecessary. Clamps 63 cooperate with the set screws 62 to adjustablysecure the bracket 5? to the link 3|, as will be readily understood byreference to Figures 9 and 10. The anti-friction roller 56 is alignedwith the cam faces 28 and 23, as best illustrated in Figure 3, wherebyit initially engages cam face 2e and outwardly swings the cam unit 23 tothe position shown in Figures 5 and 6, and thereafter roller 56 engagescam face 223, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, each time the side arm 3|goes through a complete cycle of operation, thereby to impart to theplaten grippers 2|, the desired delayed action hereinbefore referred to,as will subsequently be more fully described.

Operation To convert a conventional slow speed press of the typehereinbefore referred to, into a high speed press in accordance with thepresent invention, the composite cam unit 23, best shown in Figure 11,is pivotally mounted on one of the side frame members of the machineframe in operative relation to the crank disk 33 and side arm 3|, ashereinbefore stated, and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The camunit 23 is preferably aligned with the cranl: wheel or disk 33 so thatthe periphery of said disk may b utilized as a stop for limiting pivotalmovement of the cam unit in one direction, as shown in Figure 4.

A resilient or flexible facing element It may be secured to the terminalit of the cam unit to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the camunit and the periphery of the disk 33, when the cam unit is releasedfrom the influence of the roller 56 of the side arm 3!, as the latterapproaches the position shown in Figure '7, wherein the platen hasassumed substantially a wide open position. The cam unit 23, it will benoted, is supported in alignment with the crank disk 33 by the U-shapedbracket 25, which constitutes an inherent part of the attachment and isfurnished with the composite cam, whereby the operation of mounting theattachment upon the machine frame in correct relation to the crank disk33 is facilitated. I

The elongated cam face 27 of the composite cam unit 23 cooperates withroller 5| to retain 2&16691189 the: platen grippersv 2! of the. platenintheir-op erative positionsrin engagementwi-th the printed:sheetsupported on the platen, and to prevent the grippers. 2i fromreleasing the printed sheet until the platen reaches its open position,shown in Figures. 7 and 8-. By thus delayingthe paper'rea leasing actionof the grippers, thev pneumatic grippers 22 may engage each printedsheet on the platen preparatory to withdrawing it therefrom before thesheet is likely to become misplaced .or otherwise damaged in theoperation of transferring the printed sheet from the position show-n inFigure 4 to the open position of the platen, shown in Figures 7 and 8.

When mounting the. attachment on; a press, theroller 5i isaligned withthe cam face 21 of the composite cam 23;, as shownin. Figure 3, wherebysaid roller is engaged thereby, as will subsequently be described. Theroller 51, as hereinbefore stated, has an operative connection with thegrippers 2i of the platen 4 through. its supporting arm 45%], the shaftor rod 52, and the bracket. 53. In like manner, the roller 55 carriedby. the hracket 51' on the side arm 3.! is aligned with the cam faces52.8 and 25!, whereby the roller 56 may oscillate the cam unit 23. tocause the cam face 2.! to engage the roller 5i and prevent .relativepivotal movement of the grippers 2! relative to. the platen, duringmovement of the platen from closed to open position.

In Figure 4, the platen-is shown in its closed position, or in theposition assumed when in printing engagement with the bed plate ll. Inthis. position the crank pin 32 of the crank disk 33 is substantiallyaligned with the aXis of the crank disk and the axis of the pivotalconnection of the opposite end of the arm 3! with the roller framemember 35, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Assuming that a sheet has justreceived an impression, as indicated for example in Figures 1 ands, asthe crank pin 32 moves from position A: in Figures to position B inFigure 5, the roller 56 is moved into engagement with the cam face 29,whereby the camEQ-l is swung outwardly from the position shown in Figure4 to that shown in Figure 5 as a result of roller 55 being carried byarm 3!. Such outward swinging movement of the cam unit 23 causes itselongated. cam face 27 to engage the roller 5! of the grippers 2| andmomentarily prevent pivotal movement of the grippers 24 relative to theplaten 4, and. thus cause them to remain in gripping engagement with theprinted sheet independently of the roller 45 and link 31, as in theconventionalv operation of the machine.

The cam face 2'! of cam unit 23 continues to retain the grippers 2! ingripping engagementv with the paper while the crank pin 32 advances fromposition B in Figure 5, to position C in Fig ure '7. Continued movementof crank pin 32 from position 0 causes roller 55 to move out ofengagement with the cam face 29 whereby the cam unit 23 is returned toits normal position by the action of the spring 50, as shown in Figure8, and in which position the terminal 66 of the cam unit will engage theperiphery of the crank disk 33, as shown in Figure 4. When roller 56passes over the high point of cam 29, it engages cam face 28 whichretards the return movement of cam unit 23, and thus prevents it fromimpinging against the periphery of the crank disk with any appre ciableforce.

When the cam unit 23 is thus returned to its:

normal position, the grippers 2! are permitted to open, after whichthe-pneumaticgrippers ofgthe delivery mechanism may engage, and;withdraw the printed: sheet from the. platen, as shown. in Figure; 8; Afresh-sheet ofypapermaythen be delivered onto the: platen from I themagazine 5, as; is well known in the art. From. the position shown inFigure 8, the crank pin 32 is returned to position A by the usualoperating mechanism of. the press, during which movement roller 56moves: out of engagement with cam face 23. and assumes the positionshown in Figure 4.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the simple attachment hereindisclosed makes it possible to quickly convert one of the. older type,slow operating presses into a high speed press, whereby the capacity ofsuch older presses may readily be made to; compare favorably withtheoutput of modern high. speed presses.

The. invention is extremely simple and inexpensive and does not requirthat, any alterations be made to the: press. when. installing the,attachmentthereon. The invention comprises. very few parts, namely, thecomposite cam 23 shown in Figure 11, the-bracket 25, and pivotbolt 24for mountingthecam 23. on the machine frame, and a few other parts suchas the roller 5!, arm 49. shaft 52 mounting bracket .53., and the mount!ing bracket 5.1 for. roller 55.

The simplicity of the attachment makes. it possible to install it on a.conventionalpress in a comparatively short space of. time, and when apress is so equipped, the platen grippers 2! of the press will be givena delayed action comparable to that ofv modern high speed presses,whereby each printed sheet is transferred from its printing position inthe machine, shown in Figure 4, to the open position of the platen,shown in Fig.- ure 7 with the assurance the, pneumatic grippers of thedelivery mechanism mayv engage each printed sheet and withdraw it fromthe platen without failure.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should beunderstoodtherefrom, but the appended claims shouldv be construed as. broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my. invention:

The combination with platen printing presscomprising a supporting frame,a platen, means. including a crank wheel, and a side arm for oscillatingthe platen between receiving and printing positions, grippers mountedfor. pivotal movement on the platen and. adapted to engage and retain asheet on the platen, when the platen isin printingposition, andoperating means. for the grippers, said operating means. permitting thegrippersto. open and release the sheet immediately after the sheet hasreceived an impression, of an attachment for retaining the grippers ingripping engagementv with the printed. sheet. during movement of theplaten from its closed printing position to its normal open position,said attachment comprising a composite cam. unit. mounted for. pivotalmovement on the machine frame, said cam. unit comprising an elongatedarcuately formed cam face, the operating means for. the grippersincluding. an. arm. mounted for. pivotal movement with the grippers andhaving a cam follower at its outer swingable end, positioned to beengaged by said elongated cam face, whereby oscillation of said cam unitwill operate said grippers and retain them in gripping engagement withthe printed sheeton the platen during movement of the platenfromgits,closed printing position to its normal; open position; Said cam unit.comprising. a. second cam face located in a plane disposed in laterallyspaced relation trol the swinging movement of the grippers between openand closed positions of the platen, one of said dual cam surfacesswinging the platen and grippers into open position, and the other ofsaid, aligned cam faces controlling th return movement of the platen toopen position.

2. A printing press according to claim 1, wherein the composite cam unitand its mounting means are constructed independently of the press frame.

3. A printing press according to claim 1, wherein spring meansconstantly urges the composite cam unit into its normal platen openingposition.

4. A printing press according to claim 1,

wherein means is provided for horizontally and vertically adjusting thecam follower on the side arm of the press, thereby to facilitatepositioning said follower to accurately time the operation of thegrippers with respect to the movement of the platen.

CLARENCE B. KLIEVER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,536,351 Morrison May 5, 1925 2,004,812 Johnson June 11, 19352,088,377 Kluge et al. July 27, 1937 2,570,699 Moody Oct. 9, 1951

